93350 LE BOURGET

One hundredth anniversary of the international Paris air show. Daily 3-hour flight demonstrations

Collection of paintings of the Italian Primitives (Some fifty exceptional works by Lorenzo Monaco, Fra Angelico, Masaccio, Filippo Lippi ) which was amassed by the Baron allemand Bernard von Lindenau.

Selection of fine canvases of Suzanne Valadon and Maurice Utrillo, presented together in the spirit of a dialogue, recreating the atmosphere of Paris of the period.

60128 PLAILLY

In 2005, the Parc Asterix takes you on an exciting journey through time, in Gaulish fashion of course, in the authentic thatched-roof village peopled with the comic characters Asterix, Obelix and their friends... From, morn till night, if you're on the lookout for thrills, there are plenty of rides and attractions, all kinds of activities and sensational shows for grown-ups and kiddies alike. And if you want to stay around for a while longer, dare to venture into the heart of the forest to enjoy the legendary hospitality of the Hôtel*** du Parc (Hôtel des 3 Hiboux) for a well-deserved rest! New: the Parc Astérix stays open during the Toussaint holidays (until 30 October 2005).

Bonheur» (Happiness): the title sets the tone for the revue at the Lido this famous cabaret on the Champs Elysées
From one tableau to the next, you will follow the story of a woman in search of happiness: against a background of soft, stirring music, lights and other special effects, the Bluebell Girls illuminate the stage with their sumptuous costumes and sensual choreographies created by Pierre Rambert. Whether you see the show on its own or with dinner, the 26th revue of the Lido promises several hours of « Happiness »!

Mark Markham, piano (Bernstein, Gershwin, Ellington )

Last leg of the tour: Montereau-Fault-Yonne - Paris Champs-Elysées (160 km)

PARC DU CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES 78000

Every year from spring to autumn, the Grandes Eaux Musicales , a musical and water extravaganza, takes place in the sumptuous setting of the gardens of the Château de Versailles.
It is an invitation to take a gentle walk through this majestic French-style garden, beloved by the Sun King, Louis XIV. A refreshing stroll past the ornamental ponds and precious fountains, which for a few hours relive the splendour and glory of the court of Louis XIV, thanks to the expertise of hydraulic engineers.
Waterfalls, fountains, jets of water, foaming water gush out in a crystal-clear aquatic ballet, accompanied by classical music. Pure delight, to discover or rediscover!

Walking around Pigalle in the Parisian twilight I'm reminded of a quotation from Walt Whitman: The past - the dark unfathomed retrospect! The past! The infinite greatness of the past! . The present here is a neon seediness, but the past, oh how glamourous we imagine it to have been! The image we retain, the colour, the sounds, the laughter is pure belle époque, but even this was a term created in retrospect. It was only the horrors of the First World War that could make consumption and syphilis seem beautiful.

I am curious therefore when I see an advert for Diana Moreno, le cirque de la belle époque. What exactly is a belle époque circus? We know that the circus was an extremely popular diversion in Paris in the 19th century, with traces remaining notably in the paintings of Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and Seurat. It was a form of entertainment that had grown out of equestrian events, with different acts added only when it became clear that new audiences did not appreciate how difficult it was to dress horses. The equestrian element had though made the circus an event that was popular with the nobility, and the belle époque circus was still a show that attracted spectators from a wide range of backgrounds.

The garden area of Chapelle Expiatoire began in 1720 and was used as the new burial grounds of the parish of La Sainte Madeleine whose cemetery had outgrown its usefulness for the growing parish. It was used extensively for the next eighty years.

In 1770, it was used to bury the 133 people who were killed in an accident resulting from a fire and stampede that occurred at a fireworks display during the wedding of the dauphin, Louis, who was to become Louis XVI, and his wife, Marie Antoinette. It was not the last episode it played in the life of this King and Queen and the events that brought about the French Revolution.

On August 10, 1792, more than three hundred Swiss Guard were slaughtered while making a heroic stand to protect the Tuileries Palace from a mob. Their stand allowed the King and Queen to escape to Versailles. The bodies of the guard were buried in this cemetery of what was to become the grounds of Chapelle Expiatoire.